Wreath base



Oct. 23, 1962 G. TEUFEL WREATH BASE Filed July 9, 1957 INVENTOR. GEORGE. TEUFEL.

nite rates This invention relates to a floral wreath base, and although the device may have a multitude of purposes, it is shown and described as a base for the formation of holly wreaths.

Holly wreaths are conventionally formed by hand wherein holly twigs are tied together by small gauge wire in an annular pattern. Such method is time consuming and in addition requires a considerable amount of practice to make well balanced and attractive wreaths. It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide a novel wreath base for receiving and holding holly twigs in a circular and evenly arranged relationship.

Another object is to provide a floral base of the type described utilizing novel holding means for the holly twigs.

Still another object is to provide a floral base which is readily mass produced in a stamping operation and which makes for easy formation of wreaths and the like by unskilled persons.

These objects are achieved by an annular member stamped from metallic sheet material and being channel shaped in cross section. The peripheral edges of the annular member have opposed tabs or fingers which are capable of being bent into converging relation to form a plurality of locking stations for twigs of holly. The invention will be better understood with reference to the description in the following specification of a preferred form thereof. Various changes may be made, however, in the construction and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the wreath member showing a twig of holly locked in place by the tabs;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that the wreath member, designated by the numeral 10, assumes an annular shape. This member is preferably formed from a readily bendable metal such as tin and is stamped from sheets of said metal by well known methods. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 the cross sectional configuration of the annular member is channel shaped, having a substantially flat bottom wall 12 and upwardly inclined side walls 14, although it is to be understood that the channel shape does not necessarily require crimp lines between the sides and bottom as illustrated because the cross sectional configuration may be arcuate. The

3,6593% Patented Oct. 23, 1952 channel-shaped construction of the member 10 makes for a structurally rigid base for holly or other floral material H. A hole 15 may be provided in the member for hanging it in a desired position.

Formed around the inner and outer peripheral edges of the annular member are opposed tabs or fingers 16 cut in the material and each having an unsevered portion forming a hinge 18 therefor. Each tab 16 has a rounded end 29 so that a worker may grasp the tab without injuring the fingers and in addition portions 22 adjacent this end are stamped out to facilitate obtaining a grip on the end of the tabs for bending them into desired locking positions.

As the walls 14 of the channel-shaped base are inclined, opposed tabs 16 converge when bent and may be bent to the extent that they cross each other and form a lock for twigs therebeneath.

Although various methods may be followed in the formation of the wreath, a convenient and rapid method is to bend the tabs so that the ends of the opposed pairs are slightly spaced wherein the stem of the twigs may be moved through this space and then the tabs bent further to lock the twigs in place. In addition to anchoring the twigs by bending the tabs into engagement therewith the twigs may be moved longitudinally thereof after insertion between the tabs wherein some of the lateral leaf portions will catch and be held in the crotch adjacent the hinge portion of the tabs.

The present invention facilitates the rapid and easy formation of wreaths and by the use thereof an unskilled person can readily make perfectly round and wellbalanced wreaths. FIGURE 1 illustrates merely a single twig locked in place in the base member but upon completion of the wreath the foliage completely conceals the tabs as well as the remainder of the base.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A wreath base comprising an annular member having a bottom wall and upwardly inclined side walls on opposite sides of said bottom wall, and pairs of opposed tabs struck in said side walls with one unsevered side forming a hinge for the tabs, said tabs being formed in the plane of the side walls with their longitudinal dimension extending circumferentially relative to the annular member, said tabs in each pair on said opposed side walls being movable into convergent intersecting relation when bent toward each other on their hinges to engage and hold foliage on said base.

Ross Dec. 25, 1923 Harris May 6, 7952 

